Misconception

14: Rescued

Clementine's POV

Ricky bursts through the front door and I feel a wave of relief wash over me. He runs in and tries to shove Chris off of me, but Chris barely budges since he's quite a bit taller than Ricky. 

"Get the fuck off of her, Chris!"

Ricky shouts. Chris just chuckles as he keeps me pinned between him and the counter. I feel tears start to well and run down my cheeks. Ricky sees me crying and he must notice the hickeys and bruises forming on my neck and I watch as rage overcomes his face. I watch as his eyes scan the kitchen and land on something. He darts around the counter and grabs a knife, walking up behind Chris and presses it to his throat. I hear Ricky whisper,

"I said, get the fuck off of her."

I watch as Chris' face goes white and he drops his hand from my mouth and backs away from me slowly. It's like my legs can't support my weight because I drop to the floor in a fit of sobs. Over my sobs I hear Ricky hiss at Chris,

"Now, you're gonna leave and you're never gonna come back. You're not friends with Vinny anymore and you sure as hell aren't friends with me. If you so much as look at Clementine ever again I'm gonna slit your fucking throat. Get the fuck out."

Ricky finally releases Chris from his hold and Chris runs out of the house, never looking back. I continue to sob on the floor as Ricky throws the knife on the counter and crouches down in front of me.

"Where's Vinny?"

He asks.

"He's upstairs sleeping."

I manage to splutter out. I watch as Ricky thinks for a second before he speaks,

"Clementine, let's not tell Vinny about this, okay? He'll just end up hunting Chris down and doing God knows what... Do you think you can do that?"

I nod my head and try to stop myself from crying. Ricky pulls me into his chest and embraces me in a hug. He stands up as he says,

"Let's get you to your room. Do you have any makeup for your neck?"

I try to stand up, but my legs feel so weak. Ricky notices and scoops me up in his arms and carries me up the stairs to my room. When we get to my room, he sets me on my bed and shuts the door and locks it. He goes into my bathroom and returns with a wet washcloth. He sits in front of me and gently begins dabbing the ice cold washcloth on my neck. 

"This should help with the bruising."

He says.

"Thank you for saving me..."

I say in an almost whisper. He stops dabbing my neck.

"I'm so sorry he did this to you, Clem..."

He says quietly. I feel more tears starting to well up in my eyes, but before any can spill out, Ricky embraces me in another hug. The last thing I remember is Ricky petting my head as I drift into unconsciousness.

When I wake I'm still in Ricky's arms. I rub my eyes as he looks down at me. 

"How did you sleep?"

He asks. I shrug. He tips my head from side to side, examining my neck.

"Do you have any makeup to cover that up?"

He asks. I shake my head. He gets up from the bed as he says,

"I'm gonna go get you some. I'll be right back."

I feel worry contort my face at the thought of being alone. 

"It'll only be 10 minutes, Clem. Do you want me to draw you a bath or something before I go?"

He asks. I nod my head. A hot bath sounds good because my body aches. Ricky goes into my bathroom and gets a bath ready for me before he leaves. I walk to my bathroom on wobbly legs and slowly undress before stepping into the tub and letting the warm water engulf me. 

Before I know it, Ricky's back with a bottle of makeup. Through the bathroom door I hear Ricky ask,

"How's your bath?"

"Good! I'm all done now though."

I say, trying to get up from the tub, but my legs feel too weak to support me.

"Everything okay in there?"

Ricky asks from the other side of the door. 

"C-Could you help me?"

I ask.

"What's wrong, Clem?"

He asks, a hint of concern in his voice. 

"I-I can't get out of the tub..."

I say, embarrassed. I hear him hesitate behind the door.

"Are the bubbles covering you?"

"Yes"

I say as my bathroom door slowly opens. He grabs a towel and sets it down by the tub before gently lifting me out of the tub. I notice he has his eyes squeezed shut.

"Why are you closing your eyes so tight?"

I ask. As he attempts to set me on my feet, I begin to fall because my legs fail to support me. He feels me start to fall when his eyes fly open as he catches me.

"B-Because you're naked..."

He stutters. He sits me on the edge of the tub as he quickly wraps me up in a towel. He scoops me up and carries me to my bed, sitting me on the edge. 

"Will you grab me some clothes?"

I ask. He nods as he heads over to my dresser, grabbing me a shirt and pants.

"Will you get me some underwear? They're in the top drawer."

I say. I watch him blush as he heads back over to my dresser, silently grabbing me a pair or underwear. He hands them to me and turns around. I try to stand to dress myself, but my legs are too shaky. 

"Ricky..."

I say, feeling helpless. He turns around.

"What's the matter?"

He asks. 

"Will you help me get dressed?"

I ask. He nods and grabs my panties, kneeling down in front of me. He slides my panties up my legs and gently lifts me to get them on all the way. I hear him take a deep breath before putting my pants on me. He grabs my shirt and asks,

"Can you lift your arms for me?"

I nod and lift my arms, feeling the towel slip off. He gently puts my shirt on me and quietly says,

"God, Clementine, if you were mine I'd never let you out of my sight..."